20110857 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20060531

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kiarfl, Hamilton, Executidircuor
MEMORANDUM
TO: Melba McGee
Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, DENR
FROM, Travis Wilson, Highway Project Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program`
DATE: May 26, 2006
SUBJECT: Response to the start of study notification from the Federal Highway
Administration regarding fish and wildlife concerns for the proposed
rehabilitation of Forest Developmental Road (FDR) 591 in Uwharrie
National Forest, Montgomery County, North Carolina, SCH Project No,
06.0320.
This memorandum responds to a request for our concerns regarding impacts on
fish and wildlife resources resulting from the subject project. Biologists on the staff of
the N. C, Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the proposed
improvements, Our comments are provided in accordance with certain provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act (42 U,S.C, 4 2(2)(c)) and the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act (48 Stat 401, as amended; 16 U,S,C, 661.Wd).
Forest Developmental Road 591 is currently an unpaved roadway that parallels
the eastern shore of Bailin Lake traversing both National Forest lands and private lands.
Upgrading FDR S91 to a paved, state maintained facility will increase the potential for
Ike private lands to be fully developed, Development of this area will likely influence
the current uses of the National Forest hands and their management, This should be
addressed in the Indirect and Cumulative Assessment for this project, Furthermore, to
help facilitate document preparation and the review process, our general informational
needs are outlined below:
Description of fishery and wildlife resources within the project area,
including a listing of federally or state designated threatened, endangered,
or special concern species, Potential borrow areas to be used for project
construction should be included in the inventories. A listing of designated
plant species can be developed through conmhation with:

Memo
May 26, 2006
The Natural Heritage Program
N. C, Division of Parks and Recreation
1615 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, N, C. 21699 -1615
(919) 1331195
WWW.ncsparlcs,alhp
and,
NCDA Plant Conservation Program
P. 0, Box 21631
Raleigh, N, C, 21611
[phone]
Description of any streams or wetlands affected by the project The need for
channelizing or relocating portions of streams crossed and the extent of
such activities,
Cover type maps showing wetland acreages impacted by the project.
Welland acreages should include all project-relaled areas that may
undergo hydrologic change as a result of ditching, other drainage, or
filling for project construction, Welland identification may be
accomplished through coordination with the U, S. Army Corps of
Engineers (COE), If the COE is not consulted, the person delineating
wetlands should be identified and criteria listed.
4. Cover type maps showing acreages of upland wildlife habitat impacted by
the proposed project. Potential borrow sites should be included.
5. The extent to which the project will result in loss, degradation, or
fragmentation of wildlife habitat (wetlands or uplands),
6, Miligation for avoiding, minimizing or compensating for direct and indirect
degradation in habitat quality as well as quantitative losses.
1. A cumulative impact assessment section which analyzes the environmental
effects of highway construction and quantifies the contribution of this
individual project to environmental degradation.
8. A discussion of the probable impacts on natural resources which will result
from secondary development facililated by the improved road access.
If construction of this facility is to be coordinated with other state, municipal,
or private developmenl projects, a description of these projects should be
included in the environmental document, and all project sponsors should
be identified.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input in the early planning stages for
this project, If we can further assist your office, please contact me at (919) 5N-.9 86,
Cc; Richard Spencer, USACE
Chris Militscher, EPA
Polly Uspinasse, DWQ
Gary Jordan, UFS